Electrical connectors



Jan. 17, 1956 R. s. THACKER 2,731,610

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed March 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Faa -.SI Tbacfier R. S. THACKER ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Jan. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1952 INVENTOR. Fa/pfi fiacder- United States Patent 7 O ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Ralph S. Thacher, Flintridge, Califi, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Titeflex, Inc., Newark, N. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,424

5 Claims. (Cl. 339-89) This invention has to do with an electrical connector and is more specifically concerned with a device for use between the ends of corresponding groups of electrical conductors. More particularly, this invention is concerned with an electrical connector of the socket and pin type, which type of connector is illustrated throughout the drawings.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an electrical connector of the type above referred to which is effective to conduct electrical currents, which when made up remains water tight and will exclude undesirable foreign particles.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector wherein the separate conductors entering into the connector are individually sealed into the body of the connector so that they are protected against conditions existing around the connector.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector wherein the electrical conductors entering the connector are carried or surrounded throughout their length by dielectric elements so that danger of short circuiting is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector wherein the separate conductors may be applied to the contact elements of the fitting prior to assembly into the composite fitting so that the soldering or attaching of the conductors or wires into the contacts is materially facilitated.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electrical connector wherein the insulating elements act to support and to secure the individual electrical elements in place by pressure from a single clamp means. The insulating elements are composed of a plastic dielectric material which is somewhat compressible so that the pressure from the lamp means deforms the elements around the electrical elements to grip and secure them in proper relationship with each other and retain the contact elements in place.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an electrical connector wherein a plurality of conductors make electrical connection between the complementary parts of the device and are sealed from external conditions by a single sealing means encompassing the con nection.

It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector wherein the components, or various elements, are keyed against rotation relative to each other so that the complementary parts of the connector are maintained in proper rotative relationship with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector wherein a plurality of electrical elements are gripped and sealed simultaneously in the connector by means of a single clamp means. The clamp means acts upon like individual sealing means to uniformly grip .and seal the conductors into the connector.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector that is practical, easily assembled, and effective and dependable under adverse working condiire tions, and which is also simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

The connector has a pair of complementary sections, one a socket section and the other a pin section. One or more electric conductors enters the outer end of each section and is secured into the section by clamping action. The sections carry engaging electrical elements so that current carried by a conductor entering one section is conducted to a conductor entering the other section.

The sections are joined by a coupling collar and each section involves a body characterized bya passage extending therethrough. The passage has a cylindrical inner portion, an enlarged cylindrical outer portion and a tapered portion connecting the two cylindrical portions. A core is carried in each body and has an exterior configuration corresponding to the configuration of the passage. Openings extend through each core corresponding in number wid1 the number of conductors to be handled by the connector. Each opening is characterized by a bore at the inner end of the core and counterbore entering the outer end of the core. The counterbore extends into the core and terminates at a shoulder where it joins with the bore. The electrical elements are carried in the core openings, there being socket contacts carried by the core in one section and pin contacts by the core in the other section. The conductors enter the outer ends of the cores and extend into the cores where they are joined to the contacts.

A means seals each conductor as it enters the core and involves a sleeve that surrounds the conductor and has a tapered inner face and a flat outer face. The inner face or portion engages a tapered seat in the core and the outer face is engaged by an operator. The operator has a washer like part pressed toward the outer end of the body by a part threaded onto the outer end of the body and acts to move the sleeve axially into the core and also the core into the body.

The sealing sleeves are of a plastic dielectric material so that they are capable of being slightly deformed. The cores and sleeves are of such configuration that by applying pressure axially of the connector the parts distort in a manner to secure the core in the body, to grip the electrical elements in the core, and to seal the conductors that enter the outer ends of the core. 7

There is a seal between the opposing cores of the connector and this seal involves an annular rib on one core that encompasses the electrical elements that extend between the cores and which engages the other core.

The various objects and features of the invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical connector showing a typical embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector showing the major elements separated from one another. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 7-7 on Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 88 on Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is a view of a different form of the present invention, being a view of one end of a connector similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The connector embodying the present invention is characterized by two cooperating sections X and Y. The

carry contact elements 49 completing the'circuitscarried' by the conductors. The sections are essentially alike except that one section carries socket contacts while the other carries pin contacts and one core has an inner end extension while the other core carries a coupling collar.

means G is provided to seal around the electrical elernents between the opposing inner ends of the cores, coupling means F to connect the two sections together,

lock means H and various other elements and features, all of which will be hereinafter described.

Body A of each section is an elongate tubular element that houses and carries the various parts relating thereto. Body A is characterized by a cylindrical outer wall 14B defining a passage 11 that extends through the body from one end to the other. A flange 12 is provided on the exterior of the body intermediate the ends thereof, and is preferably polygonal in cross-sectional configuration so that it is adapted to be operated by a wrench, or the like. Passage 11 extends axially of the body and has a cylindrical portion 13 at its inner end, an enlarged cylindrical portion 14 at its outer end and an intermediate tapered portion 15 extending between and joining the portions 13 and 14. The passage 11 is an inwardly tapered passage extending through the body from the outer end thereof. A key 16 projects inwardly from the body wall at the enlarged portion 14 and extends longitudinally of the body to terminate at the outer end thereof.

In addition to the elements thus far described, the body A of section Y is also provided with an extension 2%.

Extension 20 is an elongate continuation of the inner end of the body A and has a flat terminal end normal to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The extension has a cylindrical outer Wall 21 and a passage 22 continuing from V and corresponding in diameter with the portion 13 of passage 11. A key 23 projects inwardly from the passage 22 and extends longitudinally of the extension.

Each core B is an elongate element carried in the passage 1 1 of the body supporting it and acts to carry and The grip the electrical elements carried by that section. core is an inwardly tapered part and the exterior of the core has a configuration which conforms to the interior 11, and portion 27 of the core conforms to and is carried 7 1n the tapered portion 15 of passage 11. The inner end of the core terminates in a flat inner face 32. A key-way 28 extends longitudinally of the core in the enlarged portion 26 thereof and receives a key 16 that prevents relative rotation between the body and the core.

In addition to the above desecribed'elernents, which are the essential elements of the core provided by the present invention, the core B in section X has an extension 30 which is an elongate element that projects axially from the inner end of the core B and is in effect an integral continuation of the core; As shown in the drawings, the extension 38 is adapted to be received in the passage 22 of the extension 29 of section Y. Extension 3%) has a cylindrical outer wall 31 continuing from and corresponding in diameter with portion 25 of the core, and the ex- 7 7 the core to which it connects.

i tension terminates in a flatinner end face 32. Faces 32 of the cores B oppose each other when the connector is completely assembled as shown in Fig. 1.

One or more openings 33 extend axially through each core B, the number and arrangement of the openings depending upon the number and arrangement of electrical elements to be carried by the connector. As shown in the drawings, there are two electrical elements carried in the socket section X and, therefore, two openings 33. Each opening is characterized by a bore 34 entering the inner end of the core, and a counterbore 35 entering the In the preferred form of the invenouter end of the core. tion the bore 34 is of limited axial extent'while the counterbore 35 extends substantially the length of the core. The inner end of the counterbore terminates in a shoulder 36 near the inner end of the core. The outer end of the opening 33 is characterized by an inwardly tapered seat portion 37. t 7

'As shown in the drawings there are two electrical elements C carried in each section or" the connector and each element C involves a contact part it? and may include a conductor 42 or apart of a conductor. The contact part ill carried by the core of one section, for example the core of socket section X, is a socket contact, while the contact part 4t) carried by the other section Y is a pin contact. Each contact 40 is characterized by an elongate cylindrical body and is carried by and is substantially coextensive with the bounterbore 35. There is a cavity 41 in the outer end of the body' lh that receives the wire of the conductor 42. The ends of the wires may be secured in the cavities by soldering, or the like, in a manner common in the application of electrical terminals.

in the case of the contacts in section X each contact has an elongate socket 43'extending into it from the inner end. The body 40 is preferably slotted as at 4-4 to give resilience to'the part of the contact in which the socket occurs. In the case of the contacts in section Y each has an elongate pin 45 that projects from its inner end. The pins '45 are of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the sockets 43 and project through the bores 34 and into the sockets 43 to establish electrical connection between the engaged contacts.

A means D seals around each conductor as it enters The means D involves an elongate inwardly tapered resilient sleeve surrounding the conductor and the sleeve has a tapered inner portion or face51 having seating engagement with the seat 37, and has a fiat outer face 52. Seat 37 may be considered as part of the means D. The sleeve when seated in the core projects somewhat from the outer end of the core, and a tubular extension 53'projects outwardly from the sleeve and beyond the end 52.

The clamp means E at the outer end of the body secures the cores therein, efiects retaining 'of'the electrical elements in the cores,'and elfects compressing or deforming of the sealing elements around the conductors. Each 'clamp'means E involves a clamp plate 69 and an operator 7t theretor. Plate 69 is round in cross section and slidably enters the outer portion of the passage 11 in the body. 'A key-way 61 is provided in the periphery of the plate adapted to receive the key projecting inwardly from the enlarged portion of the passage in the body. Plate es has-an inner face 62 that abuts with'the face 52 of the several sleeves Stlto'simultaneously force the sleeves into the seats in the core, and has an outer face 63'with a central boss 64'. Boss 64 has openings 65 passing the core.

Means F is provided for coupling the sections X and Y together with the contacts C in electrical engagement. Means F involves a collar 75 rotatably carried at the inner end of one of the sections of the connector. The collar is rotatably carried on the body through an inwardly projecting flange 76 at one end of the collar. Flange 76 operates in an annular channel 77 in the wall 10 of the body and to provide for easy assembly it is a sectional flange divided at 78. The sections of the flange are assembled in the channel 77 and a lip 79 on the end of the collar is turned over the outer periphery of the flange thereby coupling the collar and flange. The collar 75 projects from the inner end of the section X and is threaded onto the extension 30 of section Y. By threading the collar onto the extension 20 the sections X and Y are drawn together with the complementary electrical contacts engaged with each other.

Means G is provided for sealing between the opposing end faces 32 of the cores B. The sealing means G is characterized by a continuous annular rib or lip 80 preferably concentric with the axis of the connector and projecting axially from the inner face of one of the cores to make contact with the inner face of the other core. Rib 83 is shown projecting from one core where it continuously surrounds or encompasses the openings 33 therein. In the preferred form of the invention rib 80 is an integral part of one of the cores B.

Lock means H is provided for preventing rotation between the relatively rotatable parts of the connector. As shown in the drawings means H involves lock wires passed through suitable holes provided through the peripheral parts of the bodies of the sections X and Y, the'sleeves 71, and the collar 75. The wires are tied to prevent displacement from the parts locked thereby.

in accordance with the present invention the cores B, the sealing means D, and the sealing means G are of a plastic dielectric material. In practice, suitable materials such as Teflon, Silastic, or resins may be employed. As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the conductors which enter the outer ends of the sections X and Y are carried by the sleeves and cylindrical extensions of the means D, and the contacts 40 are carried throughout their lengths by the cores B. There are no metal parts in contact with any of the electrical elements carried by the section of the connector.

By constructing the sealing means and/or the cores of a plastic material they may be deformed somewhat or caused to flow into the desired relationship with each other by application of pressure. The clamp means E applies the pressure necessary for this action. By forcing the sleeves into seats 37 the sleeves are wedged tightly onto the exterior of the conductors to grip and secure the conductors to the connector. By forcing the sleeves 5t; into the cores the cores are thereby forced into the bodies of the sections. The inwardly tapered portions of the passages and cores act to wedge the sleeves tightly onto the exteriors of the conductors 42 to grip the conductor and retain the contacts in position in the connector. It will be readily understood how the clamping action of means E acts to force the cores and sealing means together, and how the coupling means F acts to force the ends of the cores together compressing or deforming the sealing means G. With the parts of the connector compressed tightly together the electrical elements are effectively sealed from exterior conditions, as for example, detrimental gases or liquids.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there is provided a plurality of like deformable sealing parts for individually gripping and sealing each electrical element carried by the connector. The several electrical elements are simultaneously gripped and sealed in the core of the connector by the single clamp means E. The de formable parts are characterized by inwardly tapered portions and the clamp means forces the parts inwardly so that the parts are deformed in a manner to constrict onto 6 the electrical conductors. The sleeves are of deformable material so that cach sleeve is uniformly acted upon by the pressure exerted by the clamping means.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of the present invention. In this form of the invention a means D is illustrated which involves a sleeve 5% surrounding the conductor and adapted to be sealed in the core of the connector section as above described. Sleeve St? has a tapered outer face 52 in place of the cylindrical extension above described, and when the clamp is operated to force the sleeve 50' into the core of the connector the tapered outer face 52' acts to compress the outer end of the sleeve. In this form of the invention the entire length of the sleeve is acted upon to grip and seal with the conductor entering the connector.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restr cted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A muiti-cable connector including two sections with front faces that confront one another when the sections are in assembled relation with one another, electrical elements including pin contacts extending from the front face of one section, complementary electrical elements including sockets in the other section and accessible to the pins through openings in the front face of said other section, each section including a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough tapered throughout at least a ornon of its length with the smaller cross-section of the aper toward the front end of the section, a core of electrical ins -rig material in each body and within which the electrical elements are held, each core being tapered to the tapered passage in the body, forward end faces of the cores constituting the areas of the front faces of the connector sections through which the pins extend and through which the sockets are accessible, a separate wire leading from each of the electrical elements of each section through individual passage in the core in which that electrical element is held, each individual passage having a taper that increases the cross-section of the passage toward its rearward end, means for sealing around the wires where they come out of each core through the rearward face of the core including sealing insulation sleeves fitting snugly over the wires and having tapered outside surfaces that fit the tapered passages in the cores and that extend beyond the rearward ends of said passages, common clamping means at the rearward end of each core in position to exert an end pressure against all of the sleeves in that core and the core itself to wedge the sleeves against the wires and the sides of the tapered passages and to wedge the core against the body.

2. The multi-cable connector described in claim 1 and in which the insulation sleeves are separated from one another and each sleeve has a reduced diameter at its rearward end to provide a shoulder at a location spaced from said rearward end and in which the common clamping means includes a plate having a plurality of openings of a diameter to receive the reduced diameter portions of the sleeves so that the front face of the plate around the openings in the plate contacts with the shoulders on the sleeves.

3. A multi-cable connector including two sections with front faces that confront one another when the sections are in assembled relation with one another, electrical elements carried by each of the sections in position for each electrical element of one section to contact with a corresponding electrical element of the other section when the sections are in said assembled relation, each section including a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough tapered throughout at least a portion of its length with the smaller cross-section of the taper toward the V 7 front end of the section, a core of electrical insulating material in each body and Within which the electrical elements are held, each core being tapered "to fit the tapered passage "in the body, a separate wire leading from each of the electrical elements of each section through 'anindividual passage in tne core in which that electrical ele ment is held, each individual passage having a taper that increases the cross-section of the passage toward its rearward end, means for sealing around the wires where they come out of each core through'the rearward face of the core including sealing insulation sleeves fitting snugly over the wires and having tapered outside surfaces that fit the tapered passages in the cores and that extend beyond the rearward ends of said passages, and common clamping means at the rearward end of each core in position to exert an end pressure against all of the sleeves in that core and the core itself to wedge the sleeves against the Wires and the sides of the tapered passages and to wedge the core against the body.

4. A multi-cable connector including two sections with front faces that confront one another when the sections are in assembled relation with one another, electrical elements including pin contacts extending from the front face of one section, complementary electrical elements including sockets in the other section and accessible to the pins through openings in the front face of said other section, each section including a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a core of electrical insulating material in each body and within which'the electrical elements are held, each core fitting the passage in the body, forward end faces of the cores constituting the areas of the front faces of the connector sections through which the pins extend and through which the sockets are accessible, means for sealing the clearance between the front faces including an annular ridge projecting from one of the faces and contacting with the other face at a location radially outward from all of the electrical elements, a separate wire leading from each of the electrical elements of each section through an individual passage in the core in which that electrical element "-is held, -each individual passage having a "taper that increa's'es the cross-section of the passage towa'rd itsrearward 'end, rneans for sealing around the wireswhere they come out of each core through the rearward face ot-the core 'includingsealing insulation sleeves fitting "snugly over thewires and having tapered outside surfaces that fit the tapered passages in the cores and that extend beyond therearward ends of said passages, and common clamping means at the rearward end of each core in position to exert an end pressure against all of the sleeves in'that core andthe core itself to Wedge the sleeves against the wires and to force the annular ridge into sealing contact with the faceof the other core confronting the ridge.

5. The multi-cable connector described in claim4 and in which the common clamping means includes a plate having a different opening for each of the wires and the insulation sleeves have rearward end portions of reduced diameter extending into said openings and providing shoulders on the. sleeves spaced from the rearward ends and against which the plate clamps to thrust the sleeves forwardly, and. an operator which threads over the outside of the body and which has an inwardly extending flange that bears against the plate over the portion of the rearward face of the plate which is beyond the openings through which the wires extend. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,126 Hastings July 7, 1936 2,275,762 Horton Mar. 10, 1942 2,281,739 Wright May 5, 1942 2,409,004 Wall Oct. 8, 1946 2,420,118 Anderson May 6, 1947 2,448,509 Antonyet a1 Sept. 7, 1948 2,566,993 Parsons Sept. 4, 1951 2,571,774 Spengler et a1 Oct. 11, 1951 wwfwmmi Mac. 

